Canalys reports the mobile app gap is still big when it comes to Windows Phone and BlackBerry offering the top titles. But a closer look at the stores shows some skewed results. Ultimately, only you can determine the best app store for your needs. Read more »
Roughly half a dozen new mobile operating systems will come to market over the next 6 to 12 months. Many of these look to be more sophisticated than the older ones controlled by Apple and Google, for whom serious competition could be just around the corner. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
BlackBerry continues to gain product momentum with a new handset for emerging markets, 120,000 total apps for BlackBerry 10 and BBM for other phones. Can it push Windows Phone aside as the third mobile platform? Read more »
BlackBerry’s CEO is making waves again, this time by saying tablets won’t be necessary in five years and that they “aren’t a good business model.” Samsung, Apple and mobile computing trends beg to differ. Read more »
The trend of larger screens on flagship Android phones shows no signs of stopping. At some point, however, one has to wonder how big “too big” is. At this rate, could Android smartphones outgrow their user base as one-handed phone use disappears? Read more »
The beta release of Viber for BlackBerry 2.4 is the first to include Skype-rivalling VoIP functionality. However, this only applies to older versions of the BlackBerry platform, not the freshly-launched BB10. Read more »
The mobile platform wars escalated once again in the first quarter of 2012 as BlackBerry finally took the wraps off its much-anticipated new operating system. Meanwhile Android continued to build on its dominance both worldwide and in the U.S., cementing a two-horse race with Apple. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
BlackBerry’s subscriber numbers are down again but more sales of phones with higher average selling prices helped the company turn a profit in the most recent fiscal quarter. Read more »
Both BlackBerry and the UK intelligence services have denied reports that the Z10 and its BlackBerry 10 software have been nixed for governmental use due to security fears. Read more »
While it’s amusing to hear critiques of iOS coming from the guy stuck with running BlackBerry, it’s clear that Apple’s competitors sense an opening. Read more »
Will T-Mobile or AT&T get the BlackBerry Z10 out the door first? AT&T starts pre-orders tomorrow so it’s going to be close. Regardless, $199.99 with contract may be a tough sell. Is the new Z10 priced too high? Read more »
No U.S. carriers have officially announced their BlackBerry launch plans yet, but reports indicate that AT&T will kick off sales on March 22. Once sales begin, how many subscribers will switch from iPhone or Android? Read more »
It’s good to see the BlackBerry team deliver a software update to improve five key features on the company’s newest smartphones. Is that enough to boost sales? Not likely. Read more »
Dexplora, the co-founders of which were also behind The Astonishing Tribe, is about to launch an iPhone app to make salespeople actually want to use the CRM systems they’re supposed to use. Read more »
It’s another edition of our call-in podcast where we take your questions and provide answers. This week: Windows RT inking, useful Android freeware, BlackBerry 10 data plans and more. Read more »
After using the BlackBerry Z10 for a few short days, some immediate impressions come to mind. Here are my initial thoughts, with a full review to follow after more usage. Read more »
Research In Motion is no more. BlackBerry is the new company name and the Z10 is the first BlackBerry 10 handset. Here’s a quick overview of the new phone. Read more »
Research In Motion — which has renamed itself BlackBerry — launched its new smartphones at a star-studded event in New York, but responses to the new devices ranged from sharply critical to “ho hum,” and that could be lethal. Read more »
We’ll be covering RIM’s BlackBerry 10 launch event Wednesday morning starting at 10am ET right here: stay tuned for a glimpse at RIM’s future. Read more »
BlackBerry devices took the world by storm and enjoyed several years of dominance. But a slow reaction to a changing market brought RIM’s fall. Now, all of the right pieces are in place for BlackBerry 10. Read more »
Microsoft has more good news to take in: After Nokia reported 4.4 million Lumia sales in the last quarter of 2012, Kantar WorldPanel says Windows Phone outsold BlackBerry in the EU during the same period. Read more »
Vodafone has fessed up to responsibility for the outage, which affected an unspecified number of BlackBerry users across Europe, the Middle East and Africa on Friday. Read more »
The year 2013 may bring real disruption to the mobile industry. Upstart carriers are embracing noncellular technologies to provide cut-rate services, third-party developers are gaining traction with cheap (or free) alternatives to SMS, and a major U.S. operator is preparing to drop handset subsidies. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
RIM posted better than expected results but it’s still facing an uphill battle as it looks ahead to the launch of BlackBerry 10. RIM’s got cash but its subscriber base slipped in the most recent quarter. Read more »
Current Windows Phone 8 and upcoming BlackBerry 10 handsets look great, but will people switch? Not likely, and even first-time smartphone owners may balk. It’s a perfect example of old phrase, “timing is everything” as most smartphone innovation has already taken place. Read more »
Research In Motion is pinning its hopes on new smartphones using a much improved platform, but the company isn’t showing off the final product until next month. A video surfaced today one of the reported new phones, giving a potential glimpse of RIM’s future. Read more »
Just one month after announcing free voice calls over Wi-Fi in BlackBerry Messenger, Research In Motion delivers the feature to all handsets running BB 6 OS or better. A video demo shows the added functionality, which could save money for some, easy to use. Read more »
The mobile-messaging value chain is changing as OTT players upend mobile operators’ SMS business. There will be 27.7 trillion messages by 2016, and most of the growth in traffic will come from IP-based services. Successful carriers will use this new technology to extend reliability and scalability. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
At a time where Research In Motion needs all the momentum it can muster, it may lose a little more. Nokia has asked for sales ban on all BlackBerry devices in the U.S. that use Wi-Fi, which is most of them. Read more »
BlackBerry 6 OS devices now have a new BBM feature: Voice calls over Wi-Fi. The software, which is coming to BB 5 as well, can help BlackBerry users talk and text at the same time, while cutting down on voice minute usage; good for emerging markets. Read more »
Research in Motion is planning a Jan. 30 launch event for BlackBerry 10 and the first devices to run on the platform. It’s the start of a huge turnaround effort for RIM, which needs to make up a lot of lost ground in the smartphone market. Read more »
Samsung may have lost a patent dispute with Apple but it’s looking like a smart investment: The company kept its top-selling smartphone sales status and increased its lead over Apple. Meanwhile, Nokia fell out of the top 5 smartphone sellers for the first time ever. Read more »
Most mobile wallets are about replacing bank cards, or tickets and coupons. A new mobile wallet from Giesecke & Devrient aims to replace not only these, but also ID cards, building and vehicle keys, and public transport tickets. Read more »
Research in Motion posted a loss of $235 million on revenues of $2.9 billion. The company, which shipped 7.4 million smartphones and 130,000 tablets, beat lowered expectations and continues to sit on a good pot of cash. Read more »
App developers are the cornerstones of the multibillion-dollar app market, but the overall community remains largely unknown. As app downloads increase, organizations that can bring tools, resources, and a collective voice to this group will be an important factor in the evolution of mobile-app development. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Whether it’s the iPhone 5, the importance of LTE, or BYOD trends disrupting the enterprise, there are always technologies, trends, and companies changing the way we define mobile. Here are some noteworthy segments to watch in the coming months, from location-based shopping to apps to wireless networks. Read more at GigaOM Pro »